construXnunchuX: 05.11

Distraxionz- (the) Anatomy of Invisible Insects Side/Pt. 2

10:04:00 AMPaul

cXnX XlazziX: A Typical Saturday in the Clemente Household (c. 1998)

9:03:00 AMPaul

We open up this week with a picture...

While we make endless joking references to our traumatic upbringing, we understand that many children our age grew up in similarly dysfunctional households. The odds are that if you're on this site, you know many unconnected facts and funny anecdotes relating to our childhood, and may have even met our parents, which lends an impartiality to these proceedings. Those who have encountered them for more than two minutes of small-talk should be able to attest to their emotionally crippling attempts at human interaction. "Now," you may ask yourself, "What happens when the two of them are left to each others' devices?" Below is a fight documented from sometime around 1997 or 1998. Unless otherwise indicated, the tick marks underneath any particular category apply to both "adults."

Ian: I'm sure since there's only one hatch mark underneath Outdated Dad Words, it will raise many questions as to what word was so striking, so memorable... Imagine this occurring, but not funny. This page intrigues me because of the illustration (one of my all-time favorites). Guess what CD we were listening to...

The fights in our household would last all day, not unlike a war with the sides periodically retreating from the front to regroup and gather a more effective arsenal. Once the FIGHT switch was flipped on, the point was no longer about correcting a perceived injustice, but rather about demoralizing and humiliating the enemy to the point of homicidal rage or suicidal despair. We weren't permitted in the proximity of these fights except to eat dinner together in the toxically tense atmosphere. So, while we were sequestered (or quarantined) for however long it took one of them to either leave or reach the point of absolute physical exhaustion, we amused ourselves.

Ian: Crymenes is still a mystery to us to this day. I'm not sure if the depiction here was styled after a specific person, but our father kneeling in praise is an accurate description. How else could one explain his constant invocations, "For Crymenes Sake!"

We divided the duties equally, agreeing on them before commencing the recording since we felt there were many unique facets to each combatant's approach, so while Paul documented the previous frame's information, Ian did so for the following aspects (at this point, we had to agree on a violation before officially marking it):

Ian: My marginal sketches aren't as interesting. I think it's important to note that the fight had been going on for a few hours already before we were bored and annoyed enough to conduct this masterpiece of mockery.

Ian: This page should have been filled (and a second one started) by the end of the day. Little did I know then that I'd inherit the same exact trait of choking on my own indignation so badly that I lose the ability to form words.

If the world worked like this, there would never be any need for a fight. Our dad's ideal world:

Ian: The dream house is perfect, a shapeless cave that requires no cleaning, knick-knackery or human contact. My only critique is that the cave isn't surrounded by a massive field of unkempt greenery. I'm assuming this would be located in a tropical climate so yardwork would be possible year-round...

But since the world isn't perfect, this is normally what would occur everday (all day on weekends, and after 5:07PM on weekdays)

Ian: Many people might see this as an exaggeration, so imagine this, only not fun. At all.

A lot of fights were needlessly initiated through unwarranted spying, as an artist's rendering illustrates below.

As the battle raged on (7.5 hours later, yes the timestamp says 12:05) and the downstairs was still a forbidden zone, we decided to team up and record valid and invalid points made. Anything irrelevant or needlessly spiteful was marked with an X and anything pertinent or constructive was marked with a /. The numbers were running tallies taken anytime we genuinely thought the fight had finished... lolz... so some of the numerical notations appear to inaccurately reflect the hash browns.

Ian: Did the fight end at 1AM or did we just pass out?

Leave it to our mother to successfully and astutely identify the source of all the troubles in our household. Although we didn't get a computer with a working internet connection (i.e. one worth wasting any time in front of) until 1999, all problems regarding negligence or outright disobedience were blamed, in a mocking (unintentionally humorous) overanunciated fashion, on the kom-PYOOT-ORR. Example sentence: "Of course you didn't hear me. Nothing else exists except THE COMPUTOR!"

And here was our prediction for the future... Breathtaking to see what the new millenium would hold.

guest stars

Construx Xonspiritorz: Save the World

8:00:00 AMPaul

I was honored when Paul asked me to write something for his blog. Then, I wasn’t sure what to write about. He didn’t give many guidelines, except it could be about ANYTHING that I was passionate about and something I typically wouldn’t write about on my blog. Gee whiz, I don’t think he understood how difficult it would be for me to choose as I am a jane-of-all-trades and multi-disciplinary. However, the more I thought about it, most of these interests stem from a center passion – nature.

Spring Beauty

I have always been connected to the Earth from a wee age by tending gardens with my grandma, walking through the forests with my mom, taste testing edibles, caring for a host of different creatures to later on as a teenager growing my own plants and creating a flower garden. I went to college for Horticulture to be able to cultivate incredible and useful plants. Then, I began to think about how I wanted to share with others about plants and nature. I wanted to provide them with opportunities to connect with nature and this lead me to becoming an Environmental Educator.

Why is it so important for one to have a connection with nature? Some say when you live with nature in mind you are a hippie, a tree-hugger, or an environmentalist. I say you are a humanitarian. I am here to save the planet! Not just the earth, but all of the people, plants, animals and other organisms in it. I know that Mother Earth can hold her own; she’ll bounce back. We as a species we will not if we continue down the road that we are on. We have evolved beyond the other animals and have lost our instincts and place in the web of life. Many people believe they are superior. They want to control, change, and alter the face of the Earth to benefit what they think is best and better. Really, they are simply hurting themselves and future generations of Homo sapiens. What happened to make us hate ourselves so much?

We look for scapegoats to place our blame and unhappiness. Here is a forest that is exactly in the spot I want to build my house – tear it down! We intentionally harm ourselves in order to make a profit. I need bigger corn to get more money, let’s spray chemicals on the crop that will make them grow faster. We have brought in invasive species just for simple whims that destroy what native beauty we have left. Shakespeare enthusiast releases European Starlings in Central Park, because they were mentioned by the bard once.

For the past ten years I have tried to share the beauty and wonders of nature with children of all ages – from 1 to 99. To find out what will make the connection for them. I would love to be positive and say that there are a greater percentage of people that do fall in love with the Earth. However, most of the time it is slightly disheartening to see someone who is deathly afraid to walk on a trail through an open forest. Or someone so bent on killing every single inchworm they see, simply because they are there. An INCHWORM?!? It eats leaves and in no way can it harm you. I have a lot of inner struggles and sometimes I want to throw my towel in and give up on humanity. Then...

Tree Swallow

Then, one person or a group of participants does get engaged and there a spark of understanding. We have fun exploring habitats. We find a snake eating a toad. We talk about the many uses of oak trees. We see baby bluebirds. We pick up snails and salamanders. We plant native flowers. Moments that make my heart sing! Through these moments something is awakened. Something deep inside that has always been there. Something that may have been pushed away due to society, fear, parents, no prior exposure, hurt, media, doubt, etc.

We need to awaken and become more of ourselves if we want our grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other future generations to be here on Earth. We have to face our fears, anxieties, and doubts about ourselves first and then we will be open to connecting with the world. With awakening, we can then be aware of how we present ourselves and how we interact with life. We can live instinctively and consciously, they way we were meant to live. Sure, you can cop out and say that you are just one person and why should you care. Who does that hurt? First, you and then everyone else around you.

I challenge you to look inside to see why you hurt and why you want to hurt yourself. I challenge you to care about the human race and the world we live in. I challenge you to go outside and just listen. To look at a flower. To get down on hands and knees looking for a toad or a four-leaf clover. To feel the sun warming your face. To take off your shoes and feel the earth below.

Awaken to what is already inside. It starts with you.

Reflecting Pool

Finally, I would like to share an excerpt from one of my favorite books by Dr. Seuss, The Lorax.

“But now,” says the Once-ler.

“Now that you’re here,

The word of the Lorax seems perfectly clear.

UNLESS someone like you

cares a whole awful lot,

nothing is going to get better.

It’s not.”

brain cats guts

No More Than Usual

12:28:00 AMPaul

Free Music Friday Fo Yo Face 5/27/11

9:00:00 AMPaul

I have to admit I had no idea this was a cover of another artist, but I love the performance of this song. It's catchy, has a great simple meaning, and is sung with wonderful conviction. This song just makes you feel good, and inspires you to sing along at the top of your lungs with a cheerful grimace.

Download it here: Drive By Truckers - Everybody Needs Love (Eddie Hinton Cover) (Album Version)

Zubz is an MC from South Africa who earned his place from battling other MC's in competitions. If you ever wondered what happened to Outkast, and think Black Eyed Peas are too sugary this is a band to check out. They are just fun to listen to, their beats are so danceable you can't help but to move to this song. I admit I havent heard the rest of the album but I cant wait.

Download it here: Zubz - Part Time Lover Full Time Freak

This band is an English/Spanish band based out of Spain. The coolest part of the mystique of the band is that the group took their name ‘Crystal Fighters’ from an unfinished opera which Laure’s grandfather had penned during his final months of insanity. Laure came across the manuscript while clearing out the reclusive old man’s remote home in the country. She quickly became obsessed by the intriguing scrawls within it and shared it with the others. Captivated by its seemingly prophetic contents, the band took on the name and formed in an attempt to expand upon the wild and deranged spirit of the old man’s writings.

The band reminds me of vampire weekend, rusted root, and Peter Gabriel all mixed together. I like the different influences they weave throughout the song, and the hook is infectious as least. The lyrics drag you in due to the irrational and unique circumstances they fall under. I think this band although promoted through the success of Fleet Foxes, and Mumford and Sons this band sets themselves apart from the pack.

Download it here: Crystal Fighters - Plage

Ramones- The Crusher

There are two distinctly different versions of this song. This version is from the last Ramones record, a sorta so-so collection of songs wherein this track stands out as pretty hooky and charming. The original was written and recorded solo by Dee Dee Ramone who, in the heyday, wrote most of the big big album tracks. The catch is that he recorded The Crusher as a rap song... on an album full of rap songs... For those who need to be convinced it's embarrassing (for Dee Dee, for punk, for hip-hop) even to listen to and don't think they'd need a shower afterwards, get on with that intrepidation.

Download: The Ramones - The Crusher

I'm not going to defend this selection since the reasoning is obvious. Potentially, some chuX chazerz are unaware that the record Be A Man was released in 2003 containing, among better known tracks, a tribute to the recently deceased Mr. Perfect who did not die in a car crash. Anyway, I won't say that the beats and rhymes aren't generic, but in all honesty, if this track was the only one released, and not surrounded by questionably marketable bravado, it would be a sincere, nearly touching tribute. I can only hope that someone makes enough time to pay equal respects in a similar style and perhaps for the 10th anniversary deluxe edition re-release, there is a tribute entitled "My Savage Friend".

Download: Macho Man - My Perfect Friend

Greenleaves- Yatta!